Extension-table.



No. 870,374. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. A. 0. L0NG.

EXTENSION TABLE.` APPLICATION FILED 01u15. 1006.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@XM/buenas@ 1HE N'nRRls PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. c,

No. 870,374. PATENTED Nov. 5, 1907.

' A; c. LONG.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

iiliiuwwlmm ,Il E 74. v W, I9/

THE mams PETERS co., wAsmNcroN, D, cA

PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

A. G. LONG. EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 190s.

3 SHEETS-SHEETl 3.

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

ALBERT C. LONG, OF HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LONG FURNITURECO., OF HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

, Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Appiicaion ned May 16.1906. serial No. 316,954.

To all ywhom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALBERT C. LONG, a citizen of the' United States,residing at Hanover, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Extension-Table, of which the followingis a specification.

In extension tables, and particularly those having central sectionalsupporting pedestals, it is the custom to so construct the table thatwhen the same is extended, the sections of the pedestal are separated tosupport the top. When so separated, the beauty of the pedestal isdestroyed, and yet for ordinary use, it is usually necessary to have thetable extended. This is a very serious objection to this type of table,and one of the principle objects of the present invention is to providea structure, wherein the table top may be extended a limited distancewithout separating the pedestal sections,and if a further extension isdesired beyond that, which would be safely supported by the closedpedestal, then the sections of said pedestal will be separated, and amore extended support for the top secured. As a result, it will beevident that for ordinary family use, the tablecan be extended orcontracted within a length of, say six feet wit-hout destroying' thesymmetry of the pedestal or support. On the other hand, when exceptionaloccasion calls for a table of greater length, then the pedestal can beextended with the top to,provide the needful support for said top.

In connection with the above general object, an important feature of theinvention resides in means for locking the pedestal sections together,while permitting the adjustment of the top, and the provision of meansfor unlocking the pedestal sections to permit their separation with theextension of the top beyond the predetermined limits.

Another important feature resides in means, whereby the supporting orpedestal sections are properly brought together upon the contraction ofthe top to the first limit, after an abnormal extension of the characteroutlined above, p

While the invention is capable of embodiment in a variety of ways, theform of construction that is at present considered the preferable one isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, and is described in thefollowing specification.

ln said drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of thetable, showing alimited extension of the top with the pedestal closed and .with theintermediate leaves removed. Fig. 2 is a. similar view, but illustratingthe extension of the top with the pedestal sections separated. Fig. 3 isa vertical sectional view, with the parts, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa detail sectional view, with the parts, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsectional view substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is adetail perspective View, illustrating the lock actuating means. Fig. 8is a detail perspective View, illustratingthe mechanism employed forclosing the pedestal sections. Fig. 9 is a detail side elevation,illustrating the relation of the parts when the pedestal sections are`closed. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional View, showing a modified formof locking device for the pedestal sections. Fig. 11 is a detailperspective view of the latch and a portion of the link, illustrated inFig. 10.

Likenumerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, a support is employed, which is in theform of a pedestal, andcomprises sections 11, having feet 12, andpreferably mounted on casters 13. The pedestal is tubular in form, andthe sections thereof are provided at their upper ends with cross bars orbridges 14. Spaced sets of slides 15, suitably secured to the ends ofthe cross bars 14 are slidably associated with each other, and thusconstitute means for connecting the pedestal sections while permittingof their relative movement towards and from each other. A top isemployed, which includes end sections 1G, each end section beingslidably associated with one of the pedestal sections. For this.purpose, one of the end sections is provided with a pair of slides 17,slidably associated with the outer sides of one of the pair of slides15, While the other top section is provided with a pair of slides 18,slidably associated with the inner sides of the other pair of slides 15.It will be understood that these various slides are connected in anyordinary manner, so that they have relative limited sliding movements oneach other. Consequently, it will be evident that the top sections 16can be moved toward and from each other upon the pedestal withoutaffecting the relative movement of the pedestal sections towards andfrom each other. At the same time, it will also be evident that if thetop sections 16 are drawn outwardly to the limits of the slides 17 and18, then said slides 17 and 18 will effect the relative movements of theslides 15, and consequently the pedestal sections will be separated.

In order to hold the pedestal sections against relative movement duringthe limited relative movements of the top sections 16, a lock isemployed, which in the present embodiment, consists of a hook 19,pivotally mounted on a support 20 that is securedto one of the pedestalsections, the bill of said hook detachably engaging in a keeper or eye21, secured within the other section. A link comprising sections 22 isconnected to the lock hook, the sections of said link being connected bya turnbuckle 23, so that the link may be extended or shortened, asdesired. The upper end of this link extends through one of the crossbars 14, and is engaged by a horizontally rotatable cam device 24,journaled upon said cross bar. The cam device has an arm 25, to which isconnected one end of a coiled spring 26, the other end being attached,as shown a't 27 to the cross bar. A latch 28, pivotally mounted on thecross bar 14, is arranged to engage the arm 25 and hold it againstmovement by the spring 26, said latch thus maintaining the link 22elevated, and the hook 19 in engagement with the eye 21, as will beevident by reference to Fig. 3. The slide 18 of the end section 16,which is adjacent to the above described actuating means, carries a triplug 29, and the free end of the latch 28, is disposed in the path ofmovement oi this trip lug, said end being beveled, as illustrated at 30.It will thus be apparent that if the top sections 16 are drawn out farenough, the trip lug 29 will engage the beveled edge oi the latch 30,thereby raising the same and permitting the spring 26 to swing the cam,and drop the link 22, thereby elevating the bill of the locking hook 19,disengaging it from the eye 21, and releasing the pedestal or supportingsections.

Ihrem the above, it will be evident that as long as the top sections 16are located within a predetermined distance of each other and when thearm 25 of the cam is engaged with the latch 28, the said top sections 16can be moved back and forth without in any manner affecting the relativemovement of the pedestal sections, and said pedestal sections will belocked together. On the other hand, if the top sections 16 are drawnapart beyond said predetermined distance, then the trip lug 29 willdisengage the holding latch 28 from the cam, said cam will beautomatically operated to unlock the pedestal sections, and consequentlythe pedestal sections Will move apart with the end sections. After suchan extension and upon the return movement of the top sections 16 towardseach other, it becomes important to move the pedestal sections together,so that the pedestal will again be complete .when the top sections 16are within their limited range of movement. In order to accomplish this,the following mechanism is preferably employed. The inner end of theslides 17 and 18, carried by the end sections 16, are provided withdepending spring latches 31, and the inner edges of the cross bars 14 ofthe pedestal sections have upstanding keeper hooks 32. Thus, when theslides 17 and 18 are drawn outwardly to'their limit with'respect to theslides 15, the free ends of the latches 31 will drop behind the keeperhooks 32. The cross bars 14, are

however, furthermore provided on their inner edges with trip tongues 33,and the trip tongues of one cross bar are disposed in the 'path ofmovement of the free endsot the latches carried by the slides of theopposite top section, said free ends oi the latches being wider than thekeeper hooks 32. In practice, and as shown in Fig. 8, the keeper hookand trip tongue on each end of each cross bar is preferably'formed froma single piece of metal, having an intermediate web 34 secured to thecross bar. It is believed that the operation oi this mechanism can nowbe made clear, and 'particularly so in connection with Figs. 8 and 9.When the top sections 16 have been moved to their outermost positionswith respect to the pedestal, as already shown, the pedestal sectionsare automatically unlocked, vand the latches 31' drop behind the keeperhooks 32. A further outward movement of the top sections thereforeeffects the relative outward movement of the pedestal sections. When thetop sections 16 are again forced towards each other, the latches 31,engaging behind the keeper hooks, will force the pedestal sectionstogether.- As said pedestal sections approach each other, the free endsoi the latches 31 will ride up the inclined trip tongues 33, anddisengage from said keeper hooks, as Ashown in Fig. 9. Consequently theslides 17 and 18 are released from the cross bars, and consequently fromthe pedestal sections, so that the top sections 16 are r free to moveinwardly with respect to the pedestal. The pedestal sections havingbeenagain locked by manually engaging the arm 25 of the cam beneath thelatch 28, the table is in condition for either a limitedv or abnormalextension.

In case, the table is provided with a center leg, exactly the samemechanism will be employed, with the exception oi the device for lockingthe pedestal sections together. The lock will then be slightly modified,as illustrated in Fig. 10, wherein the pedestal sections are shown at11, and the center leg is designated 12a. The locking device 19a is inthe form of a yoke, having its side arms pivoted, as shown at 20a to oneof the pedestal sections and embracing the center leg l2.

The free ends oi the locking device engage in eyes 21a,l

and the central portion is connected tothe actuating link 221Lcorresponding to that already described.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, andminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any oi the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent,

isz-

l. In a table, the combination with a pedestal comprising separablesections movable to and from an abutting position, of slidableconnections between the pedestal sections that permit their movement toand from such abutting position, top sections movable to and from anabutting position over the pedestal, slidable connections between thetop sections and pedestal sections that permitthe movement of the topsections to and from their abutting position when the pedestal sectionsare abutted, a lock connecting the pedestal sections and holding thesame in abutted position while permitting the relative movement of thetop sections, and actuating means for the lock exposed when the topsections are separated and prior to the separation of thepedestalsections.

2. In a table, the combination with supporting sections, of cross barscarried thereby, slidably associated connections mounted on the crossbars to permit the relative movement of the supporting sections, a lockconnecting the supporting sections and having actuating means disposedabove the plane of the cross bars, and top sections movably vmounted onthe cross bars and movable independently of the supporting sections toand from an abutting position over the supporting sections, said topsections when in abutted position, covering the lock actuating means andexposing the same on their separation and when the supporting sectionsare still locked.

3. In a table, the combination with a support comprising relativelymovable sections, of relatively movable top sections mounted on thesupport and relatively movable independent of the relative movement ofthe support sections, a lock for holding the support sections againstrelative movement, and means automatically operated on the relativemovement of the top-sections independently of the supporting sections tooperate the lock.

4. In a table, the combination with a support comprissections mounted onthe support and having a limited i movement independently of saidsupport sections, a lock for holding the support sections againstrelative movement, and automatic means for releasingT the lock and pei'-mitting the relative movement of the support sections when the topsections have reached said limit of movement.

.6. In a table, the combination with a support compris.

ing relatively movable sections, of relatively movable top sectionsmounted ou the support and movable independently of the relativemovement of the sections thereof, a lock for holding the supportsections against relative move- `ment, and actuating means for the lockincluding a device disposed in the path of movement of a portion of thetop sections and operated by the same upon their relative movementindependent of the relative movement of the support sections.

T. In a table, the combination with a support, comprisingr relativelymovable sections, of relatively movable top sections mounted on thesupport and having limited movements independently of the supportsections, a lock for holding the support sections against relativemovement, and actuating means for the lock including a device disposedin the path of movement of a portion of one of the top sections andoperated by the same when said top section has reached said independentlimit of movement.

S. In a table, the combination with a support comprising relativelymovable sections, of relatively movable top sections mounted on thesupport and movable thereon, an automatic lock for holding the supportsections against relative movement, and a latch for holding the lockagainst movement. said latch being engaged and operated by one of thetop sections on the movement of said topsections on their supportingrsections.

E). In a table, the combination with a support. comprising relativelymovable sections. of relatively movable top sections mounted on thesupport, a lock mounted on one of the support -sections for holding thesupport sections against relative movement, an automatic spring actuateddevice for moving the lock to an inoperative position. and a latchmovably mounted on the support section having the lock and engaging theactuating device for preventing its movement. said latch having aportion operated by the top section to release it from the actuatingdevice.

l0. ln a table, the combination with a support. comprising relativelymovable sections, of relatively movable top' sections mounted on thesupport. a lock for holding the support sections against relativemovement. an automatic spring actuated device for moving the lock to aninoperative position. and a latch engaging the actuating device forpreventing its said movement, said latch being disposed in the path ot'movement of a portion ot' the top sections and disengaged thereby fromthe actuating device.

l1. In a table, the combination with a supporting pedestal, comprisingrelatively movable sections, of top sections slidahly mounted on thepedestal and movable independently of said pedestal sections, a lock forholding the pedestal sections against relative movement, an automaticactuating device for the lock mounted on one of `the ped-- I springactuated device for operating the lock mounted4 on y one ot' the crossbars, a latch mounted on the cross bar i and detachably engaging theoperating device, and a trip for the latch carried by one of the slidesof the top sections.

13. ln a table, the combination with a pedestal comprising relativelymovable sections and cross bars secured to the upper ends of thesections, of a locking hook pivotally mounted on one section anddetachably engaging the other section, a cam rotatably mounted on one ofthe cross bars, a link connection between the cam and locking hook, aspring engaging the cam for moving it in one direction, a latch thatdetachably engages the cam to prevent its movement, slidably associatedslides secured to the cross bars, top end-sections having slides thatare slidably associated with the slides of the cross bars, and a tripcarried by one of the end section slides and movable into engagementwith the latch to release the cam.

l-l. In a table, the combination with relatively movable supportingsections', of relatively movable top sections z movable on and withrespect to the supporting sections, and means for holding theysupporting and top sections against relative movement during themovement of the latter a predetermined distance.

l5. In a table, the combination with relatively movablesupportingsections, of relatively movable top sections, each of which isslidableon one of the supporting sections, and means for holding the topsections and their related supporting sections against relative movementduring the movement of the top sections a predetermined distance.

16. ln a table, the combination with relatively movable supportingsections, of relatively movable top sections movable on and with respectto the supporting sections, means for holding the supporting and topsections against relative movement during the movement of the latter apredetermined distance, and means for releasing said holding means topermit the relative movements of the top sections independently of thesupporting sections.

1T. In a table, the combination with a support including a section, of atop including a section mounted on said support section and having apredetermined limited sliding movement thereon, and a latch carried byone of said sections and detachably engaging with the other section whenthe top section moves beyond said predetermined limits to effect themovement of the support section therewith.

18. In a table, the combination with a support, including a section, ofa top including a section mounted on said support section and having apredetermined limited reciprocatory movement thereon, and a latchcarried by one of said sections and detachably interlocking with theother section when the top section moves beyond said predetermined limitto eit'ect the movement of the support section with the top sectionuponthe return inward movement of the top section.

1S). In a table, the combination with asupport including a section, of atop including a section mounted on said support section and having apredetermined limited reciprocatory movement thereon, a latch carried byone of said sections and detachably interlocking with the other sectionwhen the top section moves beyond said predetermined limit to effect themovementof the support section with the top section upon the returninward movement of the top section, and means for automaticallyoperating the latch to again permit the said reciprocatory movement ofthe top section when said top section'again reaches the predeterminedlimit on the return movement.

20. In a table, the combination with a support including relativelymovable reciprocatory sections, .of a top respect to one of thesupporting sections, means for connecting the said top and supportingsections to insure their movement together, and means forautomaticallyoperating the connecting means to disconnect the sections when theyreach a predetermined position.

21. In a table, the combination with a support having a reciprocatorysection, of a reciprocatory top section movable on and with respect tosaid support section, a keeper carried by one of said sections; and alatch carried by the other of said sections and movable into engagementwith including a reciprocatory section movable on and withthe keeperwhen the sections reach a predetermined position on their relativemovement.

22. In a table, the combination with a pedestal comprising sectionsmovable toward and from each other, of top sections slidably mounted onthe pedestal sections and having limited movements with respect theretoand toward and from each other, and means carried by the top sectionsand engaging the pedestal sections when the latter are separated andwhen the top sections are in their outer positions thereon to move saidpedestal sections together upon the movement ot' the top sectionstowards each other.

23. In a table, the combination with a pedestal comprising sectionsmovable toward and from each other, of `top sections slidably mounted onthe pedestal sections and having limited movements with respect theretoand toward and from each other, means carried by the top sections andengaging the pedestal sections when the latter are separated to movethem together upon the movement of the top sections towards each other,and a device for operating said means to automatically disengage the topsections from the pedestal sections when the latter are together topermit a further inward movement of said top sections.

24. In a table, the combination with a pedestal comprising sectionsmovable away from and toward each other, of a top comprising sectionsmovable away from and toward each other, each top section having alimited movement on a pedestal section and eliecting the relativeoutward movement of said pedestal sections on their relative movementsbeyond such limit, devices carried by the top sections and engaging thepedestal sections when the latter are separated to effect theirmovement`toward eachtowards each other, slides carried b veach topsection andv slidably associated with the pedestal slides, each topsection having a limited sliding movement on a pedestal section andeffecting the relative outward movement of said pedestal sections on therelative movement of the top section beyond such limit, keepers mountedon the cross bars ot' the pedestal sections, latches carried by theslides of the top sections and engaging the keepers when the pedestalsections are separated to eltect the movement of the pedestal sectionstowards each other on the corresponding movement of the top sections,and trips mounted on the cross bars and engaging the latches of theopposite top sections to disengage the same from the opposite pedestalsections when said pedestal sections are together, to permit theindependent relative movementbf the top sections,

2G. In a table, the combination with a support cornprising sectionsmovable toward and from each other, of

top sections slidably mounted on the support sections and having alimited movement thereon towards and` from each other, means carried bythe vtop sections and engaging the support sections when the latter areseparated and the top sections.are in their outer positions thereon tomove said supporting sections together upon the corresponding movementof the top sections, and means for locking the support sections togetherand permitting the said limited movements of the top sections thereon.

27. In a table, the combination with a pedestal coinprising sectionsmovable towards and from each other, of top sections slidably mounted onthe pedestal sections and having limited movements thereon towards andfrom each other, means carried by the top sections and engaging thepedestal sections when the latter are separated to move them togetherupon the corresponding movement of the top sections, a lock for holdingthe pedestal sections together and permitting the ,said limited relativemovements of the top sections thereon, and means for automaticallyunlocking the pedestal sections on the movement ot' the top sectionsaway from each other beyond said limited movement independently of thepedestal seetions.

In a table, the combination with a pedestal comprising sections, ofslidably associated slides connecting the pedestal sections, topsections having slides that are slidably associated with the pedestalslides, said top sections having relative movements towards and fromeach other independently of the movement of the pedestal sections, alock for holding the pedestal sections together, automatic means foractuating the lock to release the pedestal sections when the topsections are moved outwardly a predetermined distance, means carried bythe top sections and engaging the pedestal sections to move the lattertogether, when separated, on the movement of the top sections towardseach other, and means for automatically disengaging the top sectionsfrom the pedestal sections when the latter are together to permit thefurther movement of said top sections towards each other.

29. In an extension table, the combination with a support comprisingseparable sections, of a top section movable thereon independently ofthe movement of the support sections, a lock for holding the supportsections against separation, and means whereby said lockl is operated onthe said independent movement of the top section on the support.

30. In an extension table, the combination with a support comprisingseparable sections, of top sections relatively movable on the supportindependently of the relative movement of the support sections, a lockfor holding the support sections against separation, and means wherebysaid lock is operated on the relative movement of the top sectionsindependently of the support sections.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. y

ALBERT C. LONG.

Witnesses J. M. MUMI'ER, GUY W. BANGn.

